Fastener with aligning lead thread

Abstract

A fastener having an aligning lead thread that does not follow the helical pattern of the fill threads around the shank of the fastener. The aligning lead thread is located on the shank distant from the first full thread to enable the engage the threads of a receiving member to pull the fastener elements into alignment rather than a standard lead thread which becomes trapped behind the threads of a receiving member.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An anti-cross threading fastener, comprising: 
       a substantially round shank member having first and second ends and a continuous helix comprised of a plurality of threads around a circumference of said shank member, the plurality of threads being adapted to mate with corresponding threads of a receiving member;  
       a lead thread of the plurality of threads proximate the first end of said shank member; and  
       a remaining plurality of threads, wherein the lead thread merges into the remaining plurality of threads to form the continuous helix;  
       wherein the distance between a first line drawn perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fastener and through the middle of the crest of the forming lead thread and a second line drawn perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fastener and through the middle of the crest of an adjacent full thread decreases as the lead thread is formed into a full thread, and wherein the longitudinal axis of the fastener, the first line drawn perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fastener, and the second line drawn perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fastener are in the same plane.  
     
     
       2. The anti-cross threading fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the lead thread is configured within a profile similar to a profile of the remaining plurality of threads. 
     
     
       3. An anti-cross threading fastener, comprising: 
       a substantially round shank member having first and second ends and a continuous helix comprised of a plurality of threads around a circumference of said shank member, the plurality of threads being adapted to mate with corresponding threads of a receiving member;  
       a lead thread of the plurality of threads proximate the first end of said shank member;  
       a transitional thread, wherein the lead thread merges into the transitional thread to form the continuous helix; and  
       a remaining plurality of threads, wherein the transitional thread merges into the remaining plurality of threads to form the continuous helix; and  
       wherein the distance between a first line drawn perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fastener and through the middle of the crest of the forming lead thread and a second line drawn perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fastener and through the middle of the crest of an adjacent full transitional thread decreases as the lead thread is formed into a full transitional thread, and wherein the longitudinal axis of the fastener, the first line drawn perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fastener, and the second line drawn perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fastener are in the same plane.  
     
     
       4. An anti-cross threading fastener, comprising: 
       a substantially round shank having first and second ends and a continuous helix comprised of a plurality of threads around a circumference of said shank member, the plurality of threads being adapted to mate with corresponding threads of a receiving member;  
       at least one full thread of the plurality of threads, wherein the at least one full thread defines a full thread profile; and  
       a lead thread proximate the first end of said shank member, wherein the lead thread merges into the at least one full thread, wherein the lead thread fits within an overlaid full thread profile, and wherein the distance between a first line drawn perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fastener and through the middle of the crest of the forming lead thread and a second line drawn perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fastener and through the middle of the crest of an adjacent full thread decreases as the lead thread is formed into a full thread, and wherein the longitudinal axis of the fastener, the first line drawn perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fastener, and the second line drawn perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fastener are in the same plane.  
     
     
       5. An anti-cross threading fastener as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein a root of the lead thread is rounded into a root of the at least one full thread. 
     
     
       6. An anti-cross threading fastener as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein there is an unthreaded portion of the shank between a root of the lead thread and a root of the at least one full thread. 
     
     
       7. The anti-cross threading fastener of  claim 4 , further comprising a protruding diameter member attached to and collinear with the first end of said shank member, said protruding diameter member adapted to restrict a presentation angle between said shank member and a receiving member. 
     
     
       8. The anti-cross threading fastener of  claim 7 , wherein a diameter of said protruding diameter member is about 90 percent of a minor diameter of the plurality of threads and about one diameter of said shank member in length. 
     
     
       9. The anti-cross threading fastener of  claim 4 , further comprising a head fixedly attached to the second end of said shank member, said head adapted for transmission of rotational torque to said shank member. 
     
     
       10. The anti-cross threading fastener of  claim 4 , wherein said lead thread comprises a plurality of lead threads. 
     
     
       11. The anti-cross threading fastener of  claim 4 , wherein said lead thread extends less than 360 degrees around the shank. 
     
     
       12. An anti-cross threading fastener, comprising: 
       a substantially round shank member having first and second ends and a continuous helix comprised of a plurality of threads around a circumference of said shank member, the plurality of threads being adapted to mate with corresponding threads of a receiving member;  
       a full thread of the plurality of threads;  
       a camming thread of the plurality of threads, wherein the camming thread merges into the at least one full thread to form the continuous helix, wherein the camming thread defines a camming thread profile; and  
       a lead thread of the plurality of threads proximate the first end of said shank member, wherein the lead thread merges into the camming thread to form the continuous helix; wherein the lead thread fits within an overlaid camming thread profile, and wherein the distance between a first line drawn perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fastener and through the middle of the crest of the forming lead thread and a second line drawn perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fastener and through the middle of the crest of an adjacent full camming thread decreases as the lead thread is formed into a full camming thread, and wherein the longitudinal axis of the fastener, the first line drawn perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fastener, and the second line drawn perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fastener are in the same plane.  
     
     
       13. The anti-cross threading fastener of  claim 12 , wherein the major diameter of the full thread is greater than the major diameter of the camming thread and wherein the camming thread profile is different than the full thread profile. 
     
     
       14. The anti-cross threading fastener as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein a root of the lead thread is rounded into a root of the camming thread. 
     
     
       15. The anti-cross threading fastener as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein there is an unthreaded portion of the shank between a root of the lead thread and a root of the camming thread. 
     
     
       16. The anti-cross threading fastener of  claim 12 , further comprising a protruding diameter member attached to and collinear with the first end of said shank member, said protruding diameter member adapted to restrict a presentation angle between said shank member and a receiving member. 
     
     
       17. The anti-cross threading fastener of  claim 16 , wherein a diameter of said protruding diameter member is about 90 percent of a minor diameter of the plurality of threads and about one diameter of said shank member in length. 
     
     
       18. The anti-cross threading fastener of  claim 12 , further comprising a head fixedly attached to the second end of said shank member, said head adapted for transmission of rotational torque to said shank member. 
     
     
       19. The anti-cross threading fastener of  claim 12 , wherein said camming thread comprises a plurality of camming threads. 
     
     
       20. The anti-cross threading fastener of  claim 12 , wherein said lead thread comprises a plurality of lead threads. 
     
     
       21. The anti-cross threading fastener of  claim 12 , wherein said lead thread extends less than 360 degrees around the shank.